Thirteenth Place in need of funding

By Lisa RogersTimes Staff Writer

Published: Monday, January 12, 2009 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, January 12, 2009 at 8:04 p.m.

For the first time in the more than 30 years since Thirteenth Place opened as an emergency shelter for children, the non-profit group is facing a financial crisis, Vicky Lamb, executive director of Thirteenth Place Inc., said.

Lamb said as costs are rising, some of the federal, state and local funding the group receives is shrinking.

Contributions from individuals also have shrunk, she said. In 2007, more than $80,000 was received from individuals. In 2008, that amount dropped to $25,000.

There was an additional loss of $60,000 when the city of Gadsden did not receive its emergency shelter grant through the state of Alabama in 2008, Lamb said.

“Thirteenth Place is at a financial crossroads this year and we need support to help provide for our youth,” she said.

Since 1977, more than 3,350 youth have called Thirteenth Place home — some for a few days and some for a few years.

“The vast majority have been victims of abuse and neglect and in desperate need of a home in which they can be safe and nurtured,” Lamb said.

“Many of the children who have walked through the doors of Thirteenth Place have done so carrying all their possessions in a grocery bag or sometimes even bundled in a trash bag.”

Two sisters, Kenzy Gaylor and Shae Johnson, lived at Thirteenth Place for several years. Both now give credit to Thirteenth Place for their successes as adults.

She and Gaylor, 23, still visit and consider the staff at Thirteenth Place as family.

“They made me grow up,” Johnson said. “I learned how to cook, how to balance a check book. They taught me everything I needed to know. They’re like family. They spoiled us.”

In a letter, Gaylor talked about how Thirteenth Place made her stronger.

“I will always look back and wonder how my life would have been if they weren’t there. I went to college, bought my first car and had a great job,” Gaylor said. “I always want Thirteenth Place to be there because there are still more kids that need help and Thirteenth Place is it.”

The home currently is set up for 14 youth. There are full-time residential staff at the home and an administrative staff. The agency is restructuring and has reduced some of the administrative staff, with plans to move the administrative offices into the residential facility.

“We try our very best to be efficient and cost-saving, but we still find ourselves losing the battle to inflation and escalating costs,” Lamb said.

Thirteenth Place Inc. is a non-profit, community-based facility that has been in operation since 1977. It was originally designed to address the immediate needs of runaway and homeless youth and provided emergency, short-term care. Seven years ago, the facility changed 10 of the 14 slots to long-term residential slots for youth in social services custody, Lamb said.

“These youth are in our care through no fault of their own,” she said.

Thirteenth Place is a safe, home-like setting and education, recreation, cultural and social opportunities are provided.

The facility serves youth in Gadsden and 32 other Alabama counties and 28 states.

One local group, Knights of Columbus, has donated $500 to be used to construct a wall for an administrative office in the residential facility, Lamb said, adding that more donations are needed.

Anyone who wishes to make a donation can contact Thirteenth Place at 547-8971 or mail a donation to P.O. Box 8067, Gadsden, AL 35902.

<p>For the first time in the more than 30 years since Thirteenth Place opened as an emergency shelter for children, the non-profit group is facing a financial crisis, Vicky Lamb, executive director of Thirteenth Place Inc., said.</p><p>Lamb said as costs are rising, some of the federal, state and local funding the group receives is shrinking.</p><p>Contributions from individuals also have shrunk, she said. In 2007, more than $80,000 was received from individuals. In 2008, that amount dropped to $25,000.</p><p>There was an additional loss of $60,000 when the city of Gadsden did not receive its emergency shelter grant through the state of Alabama in 2008, Lamb said.</p><p>Thirteenth Place is at a financial crossroads this year and we need support to help provide for our youth, she said.</p><p>Since 1977, more than 3,350 youth have called Thirteenth Place home  some for a few days and some for a few years.</p><p>The vast majority have been victims of abuse and neglect and in desperate need of a home in which they can be safe and nurtured, Lamb said. </p><p>Many of the children who have walked through the doors of Thirteenth Place have done so carrying all their possessions in a grocery bag or sometimes even bundled in a trash bag.</p><p>Two sisters, Kenzy Gaylor and Shae Johnson, lived at Thirteenth Place for several years. Both now give credit to Thirteenth Place for their successes as adults.</p><p>We’re doing really good thanks to Thirteenth Place, said Johnson, 21.</p><p>She and Gaylor, 23, still visit and consider the staff at Thirteenth Place as family.</p><p>They made me grow up, Johnson said. I learned how to cook, how to balance a check book. They taught me everything I needed to know. They’re like family. They spoiled us.</p><p>In a letter, Gaylor talked about how Thirteenth Place made her stronger.</p><p>I will always look back and wonder how my life would have been if they weren’t there. I went to college, bought my first car and had a great job, Gaylor said. I always want Thirteenth Place to be there because there are still more kids that need help and Thirteenth Place is it.</p><p>The home currently is set up for 14 youth. There are full-time residential staff at the home and an administrative staff. The agency is restructuring and has reduced some of the administrative staff, with plans to move the administrative offices into the residential facility.</p><p>We try our very best to be efficient and cost-saving, but we still find ourselves losing the battle to inflation and escalating costs, Lamb said.</p><p>Thirteenth Place Inc. is a non-profit, community-based facility that has been in operation since 1977. It was originally designed to address the immediate needs of runaway and homeless youth and provided emergency, short-term care. Seven years ago, the facility changed 10 of the 14 slots to long-term residential slots for youth in social services custody, Lamb said.</p><p>These youth are in our care through no fault of their own, she said.</p><p>Thirteenth Place is a safe, home-like setting and education, recreation, cultural and social opportunities are provided.</p><p>The facility serves youth in Gadsden and 32 other Alabama counties and 28 states.</p><p>One local group, Knights of Columbus, has donated $500 to be used to construct a wall for an administrative office in the residential facility, Lamb said, adding that more donations are needed.</p><p>Anyone who wishes to make a donation can contact Thirteenth Place at 547-8971 or mail a donation to P.O. Box 8067, Gadsden, AL 35902.</p>